(no subject)
One of my bosses gave me an article in a counseling journal to read today, and wanted my opinion of it. Here is my response to the article...
More than meets the eye
Article by Lynne Shallcross
Counseling Today Magazine
October 2009 Issue (Vol 52, #4)
While overeating is a major contributing factor in America's obesity epidemic, it's nice to know that the other reasons aren't foreshadowed by it. Shallcross investigates these other contributors, specifically psychological contributors, and what can be done to steer these destructive tendencies (overeating and not exercising) towards a better person, psychologically and physically.
As a 28-year-old morbidly obese male, I take heart in knowing someone else can see these signs. While the rest of the world stares at me as I eat a salad at the local burger joint and wonders "how much did that fat ass eat before that salad hit his plate?", there are people who realize that the actual eating isn't a problem, it's the factors that cause the eating. Issues such as stress, depression, relationships, and simple unhappiness, in my own personal experience, are some of the biggest 'enablers' of obesity.
I suffer from depression. I am fully aware of my body and what other people think of it, and because of those two facts, I think I am 'ahead of the game' in conquering my attitudes when I am depressed that cause me to eat. Shallcross' article states the truth : for many overweight Americans, food is a comfort item. It's something familiar that makes us feel better. Eating releases endorphins and serotonin that make us think "Yes, now I'm better". This is why eating is often the response to a depressing situation : failing a job interview, getting rejected by a potential date; I personally have found myself seeking out comfort after not being able to participate in an activity my friends were excited about, because I was too scared of my weight and current health conditions causing a problem. Visiting the hospital because I overexerted during a badminton match is embarrassing.
Stress, and especially stress from relationships (or a lack thereof, as mentioned above) is a major factor. Stress causes extreme discomfort in the body, and again, eating causes the 'feelgood' release to counteract the stresses. Again, I have found myself seeking comfort in food to counter the stresses in my life, whether they were caused by me or caused by an outside influence.
I believe Shallcross has the right idea in trying to find a way to steer those with weight problems towards healthier attitudes about these enablers. Forcing the issue never works - we fat people know we are fat. It's in our jeans, if you'll forgive a horrible pun. Forcing the issue only causes us greater stress, and depression...and we all know where that leads. Instead, a manipulation of emotions for those enablers by counselors is a great weapon in the fight against obesity. My current counselor uses it himself - he and I identified one of the major enablers of my eating habits was emotional instability and depression. I would find myself in foul, bad, or sad moods, and instead of finding a constructive or productive way to get ouf of that mood, I would find the 'easy way out' and destructively start eating so I could feel that endorphin high when it was over.
I have changed. My counselor meets with me every week and we discuss what I dealt with the previous seven days and what, if anything, caused me to feel sad, bad, or discomforted. We then figure out ways to work around it, and possibly conquer the events that cause me to entertain those emotions.
Shallcross is right : obesity is an issue that needs to be dealt with soon and swiftly. Using counseling, rather than doctoring, and finding out the reason behind the obesity, rather than treating it directly, may be the right way to go.
More than meets the eye
Article by Lynne Shallcross
Counseling Today Magazine
October 2009 Issue (Vol 52, #4)
While overeating is a major contributing factor in America's obesity epidemic, it's nice to know that the other reasons aren't foreshadowed by it. Shallcross investigates these other contributors, specifically psychological contributors, and what can be done to steer these destructive tendencies (overeating and not exercising) towards a better person, psychologically and physically.
As a 28-year-old morbidly obese male, I take heart in knowing someone else can see these signs. While the rest of the world stares at me as I eat a salad at the local burger joint and wonders "how much did that fat ass eat before that salad hit his plate?", there are people who realize that the actual eating isn't a problem, it's the factors that cause the eating. Issues such as stress, depression, relationships, and simple unhappiness, in my own personal experience, are some of the biggest 'enablers' of obesity.
I suffer from depression. I am fully aware of my body and what other people think of it, and because of those two facts, I think I am 'ahead of the game' in conquering my attitudes when I am depressed that cause me to eat. Shallcross' article states the truth : for many overweight Americans, food is a comfort item. It's something familiar that makes us feel better. Eating releases endorphins and serotonin that make us think "Yes, now I'm better". This is why eating is often the response to a depressing situation : failing a job interview, getting rejected by a potential date; I personally have found myself seeking out comfort after not being able to participate in an activity my friends were excited about, because I was too scared of my weight and current health conditions causing a problem. Visiting the hospital because I overexerted during a badminton match is embarrassing.
Stress, and especially stress from relationships (or a lack thereof, as mentioned above) is a major factor. Stress causes extreme discomfort in the body, and again, eating causes the 'feelgood' release to counteract the stresses. Again, I have found myself seeking comfort in food to counter the stresses in my life, whether they were caused by me or caused by an outside influence.
I believe Shallcross has the right idea in trying to find a way to steer those with weight problems towards healthier attitudes about these enablers. Forcing the issue never works - we fat people know we are fat. It's in our jeans, if you'll forgive a horrible pun. Forcing the issue only causes us greater stress, and depression...and we all know where that leads. Instead, a manipulation of emotions for those enablers by counselors is a great weapon in the fight against obesity. My current counselor uses it himself - he and I identified one of the major enablers of my eating habits was emotional instability and depression. I would find myself in foul, bad, or sad moods, and instead of finding a constructive or productive way to get ouf of that mood, I would find the 'easy way out' and destructively start eating so I could feel that endorphin high when it was over.
I have changed. My counselor meets with me every week and we discuss what I dealt with the previous seven days and what, if anything, caused me to feel sad, bad, or discomforted. We then figure out ways to work around it, and possibly conquer the events that cause me to entertain those emotions.
Shallcross is right : obesity is an issue that needs to be dealt with soon and swiftly. Using counseling, rather than doctoring, and finding out the reason behind the obesity, rather than treating it directly, may be the right way to go.